College celebrates scholarship, teaching prowess of faculty and staff

It's no secret that Beloit boasts some innovative, inspiring faculty and staff, and on Friday, April 27, the college took the time to publicly applaud some of their work at an annual recognition event.

“This event celebrates what’s best about Beloit,” said Ann Davies, provost and dean of the college.

That included the presentation of the James S. Underkofler Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award and the Phee Boon Kang'73 Prize for Innovation in Teaching with Technology. Both recipients—Lisa Anderson-Levy and John Jungck—received standing ovations as they accepted their awards.

Nominated by students (some 60 Beloit professors were suggested this year) and funded by Alliant Energy, this year's Underkofler Award went to Assistant Professor of Anthropology Lisa Anderson-Levy.

Described by students as "incredibly engaging" and "challenging," one wrote that “It’s not an exaggeration to say that she has changed the way I understand the world.”

Established by alumnus and Trustee Phee Boon Kang'73, the Phee Boon Kang'73 Prize for Innovation in Teaching with Technology was this year awarded to Professor of Biology and Mead Family Professor of Sciences John Jungck.

Jungck was recognized for his leadership on the BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium, which has introduced tools for creatively utilizing computers in education—as she read the award citation, Davies said it’s been suggested that Jungck, a longtime member of Beloit’s faculty, brought the first computer to campus.

“He has dedicated his career to improving undergraduate teaching nationally and internationally," Davies said.